The use of drugs, both legal and illegal, is not a new phenomenon. In fact, drugs have been on the market for hundreds of years and are consumed by a large part of the world’s population. I am 21 years old and I often party. At least I used to, before the confinement. I am sociable, I like to share moments of joy and fun with my friends, I like to go to festivals, listen to music, socialize and meet people. So, I have, in part, the typical profile of a young adult who likes to experiment and test new things, including drugs. However, I’m not interested in drugs, and I have a hard time finding friends who have the same vision as I do. I feel that no matter who I meet, the different groups of friends I spend time with, or the different parties I attend, drugs are an integral part of life for people my age. I don’t know if it’s because I’m growing up and I’m more likely to notice these things or if drugs are more and more present these days, but I would choose the latter. I feel that drugs are becoming more and more normalized among young people, whether it’s through the music world, the society we live in or the environment we work in.

Hard » and « soft » drugs

There are different types of drugs. We can distinguish two categories of substances, « hard » and « soft » drugs. What does this basically mean? Is a so-called « soft » drug supposed to generate less damage than a « hard » drug? By soft drugs I mean mainly alcohol and cannabis. As far as hard drugs are concerned, I will talk about cocaine and MDMA/ecstasy. According to my research (which by the way confirmed what I already knew), all drugs have harmful effects on health. Some have more impact than others, but they are all potentially dangerous, and even more so if used excessively. Therefore, wouldn’t be preferable to classify drugs as « hard » or « soft » according to their use and not according to the drug itself?

Alcohol and drugs, essential elements for a good party

When I ask my friends why they take drugs, I often get the same kind of answer: « For fun”. I can understand, but at what point is the line between fun and endangerment crossed over? I think young people today tend to forget that it is possible to party without necessarily drinking alcohol or taking drugs. I drink alcohol myself, and I’ve already had the experience of drinking too much of it, but I don’t think it is the key to a good evening. Not to mention the hangover you get the next morning, I always wonder if it was worth it. Drugs are often taken recreationally, but at what point does it become problematic and dangerous? Are we sufficiently informed on the subject? In my opinion, drug use is progressively becoming normalized and young people are taking it earlier and in larger quantities. I wanted to answer the questions I had about whether my beliefs were well-founded or whether this impression was simply due to the fact that I am getting older and therefore becoming one of those people who says, « it was better before ». According to the European Report on Drugs in 2018, I was right. The drug problem is growing. Drugs are mass-produced and are increasingly available on the market. Currently, more than 92 million adults have already used illicit drugs in their lives.

The importance of the first consumption

I think it’s normal to want to try new experiences and put a foot in the unknown. Adolescence (15-20 years old) is the period of first experiences, of breaking the rules, during which we need to emancipate ourselves and push the boundaries of our limits. However, the first use of narcotics is a very important stage, and it is necessary to be well surrounded. It is very often our entourage that influences whether or not we try it again, that defines the experience as being « cool » and that makes the drug more accessible. Having friends who use illicit substances can help you feel safe and reduce certain risks, but it can also set the stage for long-term use and thus easily lead to addiction. That’s what Valerie told me when I asked her how she started taking drugs.

« I started out of curiosity, I wanted to test and party. If I did it, it’s also because of the people I was seeing. Not really because I belonged to a group, but more because the group made drugs accessible to my environment”.

The image of different illicit products and the perception of the risks associated with the use of these substances greatly differ from one substance to another. Drug use among youth is a key issue because it causes harmful consequences on the development and health of young people in the short, medium and long term, not to mention the social damage it can generate. Despite youth’s relative knowledge of the risks associated with these substances, their willingness to socialize, to enjoy themselves and their easy access to products lead them to adopt consumption behavior’s that may prove harmful and uncontrolled. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are the most common psychoactive substances among adolescents in many countries around the world.

Cannabis, a widely accepted drug

Nowadays, the dangers of tobacco are well known to all and therefore lead to a decrease in consumption amongst young people. On the other hand, cannabis is often considered less dangerous than tobacco and therefore makes it more attractive. According to the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the illegal dimension appears in practice neutralized by the diffusion of the substance compared to previous generations. The increasing legalization of cannabis in some countries of the world is changing the perception we have of this drug by making it widely accepted. This normalized dimension of cannabis thus gives young people the impression that they are not breaking the rules.

« No one forced me to take drug, but my sister was using it, so maybe it normalized the drug around me, » says Chloé, a daily cannabis smoker.

Cannabis has several effects, it can be a stimulant, depressant, hallucinogen and neuroleptic. According to the European Report on Drugs in 2018, cannabis is the most consumed illicit drug in Europe. This substance causes fewer health problems than the others, but the high number of people using it has public health consequences.

Regular or daily use of cannabis can lead to psychological and physical dependence. The likelihood of dependence increases with the amount, duration and frequency of use. Until about age 25, the brain is in a maturation phase that makes it vulnerable to the effects of psychoactive substances. Cannabis use in adolescence can lead to cognitive, physiological and behavioral disturbances (e.g., problems with attention, memory, coordination, anxiety and depression) that may persist into adulthood, including after withdrawal. Louis, a regular cannabis user for the past 7 years, told me that he is experiencing some of his symptoms.

« I am addicted to weed, I started when I was 16 and I smoke one joint a day. I first tried the drug out of curiosity and because I was surrounded by people who used it. Then I felt it would help me with my personal problems, so I continued. Then I realized that it didn’t help me, but it became a habit and it’s hard to get rid of. Now when I smoke and I’m alone, I think about darker things than when I’m not smoking, whether it’s about my love life, my actions, my behavior’s or life in general. I brood and I’m anxious about my future, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to quit smoking and I won’t be able to cope. As far as my memory is concerned, I forget everything that hasn’t marked me. If I run into someone and ask them a question, I’ll have forgotten the answer a week later. It also handicaps me for my studies because I have difficulty concentrating and therefore studying ».

When used regularly, cannabis use can have long-term health consequences comparable to those of smoking, such as the risk of neuro-cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Cocaine, an increasingly « trendy » drug

Cocaine is known to be an addictive drug, and Valerie has experienced it.

« I think that, even though it wasn’t medically recognized, I had a form of cocaine addiction for just under a year. I used once or twice a week, but I thought about it all the time. I managed to regain a more controlled and non-addictive rhythm by forcing myself to stop taking the substance for several months. Since it is almost impossible to maintain this willingness when one is in the presence of drugs, I had to ask those around me (who use drugs) to stop talking to me about it, to stop inviting me, or even to refuse myself to participate in certain events”.

This drug is a powerful stimulant used as a recreational drug. It stimulates the nervous system and causes a feeling of power and euphoria. It is the second most widely used illegal drug in the world after cannabis. Cocaine is considered as the drug of culture and is found a lot in the night life. The report of the French Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction published in September 2019 shows an increase in cocaine experimentation between 2000 and 2017 among 17-year-olds. While this drug remains expensive, it has become increasingly « trendy » in recent years among a growing public from all walks of life.

MDMA or ecstasy, the friend of music

MDMA or Ecstasy is a psychoactive drug that stimulates the nervous system. This substance belongs to the hallucinogenic psychedelic and neuroleptic stimulants. It provides a feeling of euphoria and an increase in physical and mental energy. I personally have many friends who take this substance around me, especially at music festivals. This drug is an integral part of the music culture. This is what Anne confirmed to me:

« I take drugs a few times a year at festivals or techno parties, it came almost naturally when I started to like this style of music. It gives me a feeling of well-being, of connection with the music and of multiplied energy. For me, enjoying techno music easily leads to taking ecstasy because the connection of sensations with the music almost always creates an exceptional experience. »

Like cocaine, ecstasy use has grown in recent years among an increasingly younger audience. It is no longer a secret that this drug is very common in festivals. Since minors are allowed to participate, ecstasy is becoming more and more accessible to teenagers and become an integral part of their musical experience. Louis, a fan of techno parties and festival, confirmed what I thought.

“Hard drugs are commonplace in techno and electro parties. I would say that 80% of the people at these parties or festivals are under the influence of substances, it becomes normal. Besides, when we listen to the few lyrics in some songs, we talk a lot about drug use ».

Multi-drug use or the art of using several drugs simultaneously

Polydrug use which consists of taking several drugs, is a common phenomenon. The three most associated substances are tobacco, alcohol and cannabis. However, some people mix hard drugs, and this can lead to serious consequences. Mixing alcohol with other drugs leads to increased health risks. The result of drug cocktails is unpredictable and exceeds the cumulative effect of the products consumed. Under the effect of ecstasy, for example, the person no longer feels the effects of alcohol. In addition, both substances have dehydrating effects, which can lead to serious consequences.

Out of the 6 people I interviewed, 6 are practicing poly-consumption. Poly-consumption does not only present risks of overdose, it can also accelerate the addiction process. And that’s what happened to Anabel. The 24-year-old poly-drug user confessed to me that she was addicted to drugs. Not to one in particular, but to the feeling that all these drugs gave her.

« I think I was addicted to drugs, even though I always felt I had control over my consumption. I wasn’t addicted to a particular drug but to the general state the drug put me in. At that time, I was lost and I was going out a lot. I got through it by doing a lot of work on myself. It’s easier to sink than to take control of your life but I wanted to find life projects and be proud of myself”.

Growing drug use

According to the 2019 report of Sciensano, the Belgian Scientific Institute of Public Health, the increase in consumption is verified on cocaine and ecstasy. « Overall, the percentage has tripled if we compare the figures from 2013 to 2018”. Poly-consumption has also increased in Belgium and the number of cases of drug possession has almost doubled, from 25,000 cases in 2008 to 45,000 cases in 2019.

Despite the risks that drug use can create, it is still increasing. The potential consequences do not seem to deter youth from using drugs, since they are associated with moments of sharing and happy memories that they enjoy telling and remembering.

« I don’t see taking drugs as more dangerous than taking medication. I like the effects it can have. I like the « discoveries » about myself and others that it allows. I like the feeling of empathy with others, the more controlled disinhibition than with alcohol, and the connection with more spiritual areas of my mind. On the other hand, I regret having lost its recreational use at some point. Like everything else, I believe it is a matter of regularity, control and respect for oneself and one’s body. A « responsible », conscious and motivated consumption therefore requires that one be able to take a step back so as not to fall into excess. The question is: is this possible? « confides Valentine.

And that’s the question: As drug use is on the rise, is it possible to use it responsibly and without going overboard? It’s a question that will unfortunately never be possible to answer.